Fri. Oct. 31, 2014: Event, Unexpected Night Chaos, Lead into Samhain

Friday, October 31, 2014
Waxing Moon
Cloudy and cool
Samhain

Yesterday was busy. Steady busy, good busy, but busy. And, of course, the computer system crashed 15 minutes before closing, with patrons who needed to check out books.

Got a lot done, especially on the PR end. Started checking the weeding piles when the system crashed.

Ran down to Saga Fusion for a snack late afternoon – very good restaurant, and they’re very nice. Definitely will get more business from me.

Realized, when I left the library, that I had no change, so I went to the bank to get change. Decided to price all the books for the event at an even $10. Easier all around.

The event itself went well and was fun – I’ll get to that in a bit. I was disappointed in the venue’s attitude. They decided that they weren’t pleased with the number of people who signed up, and washed their hands of it. They refused to set up the room we were in; they didn’t even have anyone on hand to greet us; there were no refreshments. That’s not how you host an event. That’s not how you introduced strangers who don’t know your venue to you. They were not gracious hosts. As someone who’d never been to their center before, it did not leave a good impression; as a potential homebuyer, that particular development is out of the question. They lost a potential customer, and I certainly wouldn’t recommend them to anyone else.

The people who attended were lovely. It was a small group, but they were interested in what we had to say, asked thoughtful questions, and bought books. So it was fine. I enjoyed them, and I feel it was an evening well spent.

Came home, unwound, read for a bit. Had to do some prep for tonight’s ritual.

At 2:22, I was awakened by a huge crash. Tessa had knocked over the table with my crystals and runes, etc. It took an hour to put it all back together. Then I couldn’t sleep. When I finally got to sleep, I dreamed about a group of people in Dickensian costumes. We weren’t back in the time of Dickens, they were just dressed that way. No idea what THAT means. By the time the alarm went off at 6, I was exhausted.

Up, morning routine, but out of the house early. Dropped off the easels we’d used in Sturbridge back at the Writers’ Center, headed in to the library. We’re dressed up and having an event for kids to come and trick or treat this afternoon. Should be fun. I’m wearing my “You Can’t Scare Me, I’m a Librarian” tee shirt from Tee Spring.

Have to go grocery shopping, write a stack of press releases for the Marine Life Center, and finish the draft of THE RED WIDOW this weekend.

Have a great one, all!

Devon

Thurs. Oct. 30, 2014: Busy Times, Interesting Times

Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014
Waxing Moon
Sunny and cold

Beautiful autumn day.

Last few days were busy. Got some good writing done, especially on THE RED WIDOW. I need to have the draft of that finished in a week or so. Designed a dirigible for it – very different than the one designed for the short story that will appear in an upcoming anthology. Wonder if I can go ahead and put “dirigible designer” on the resume?

Finished up my materials for the conference and for Thursday night’s author appearance. Packed everything so I wouldn’t have to scramble at the last minute.

Lost half of Monday’s writing day untangling a mess someone deliberately created. But it got sorted. Did laundry, washed a tablecloth from the library. Tuesday night, I went to a Canal Chamber Event at Mezza Luna for the Marine Life Center. Lots of fun, good food, good contacts.

Up at 4:30 on Wed. morning. Picked up by my colleague at 6:30, and we drove to the Small Libraries Forum in Sturbridge. It was a lot of fun. We lucked out on traffic in both directions, and had smooth rides. Learned a lot, met a lot of people, and our display was well-received. Considering it was a team effort to put together all the pieces, I’d say it went well.

Home. My mother’s birthday dinner – she turned 90. I think she had a good day. I’m lucky to have her.

Today, I’m at the library, and then I’m doing “The Art of the Scream” event with author Kevin Symmons at the Stonebridge Club, Pine Hills. Hope to see many of you there.

Devon

Friday, Oct. 24, 2014: The Good Busy

Friday, October 24, 2014
Waxing Moon
Mercury Retrograde
Rainy and cool

Busy, busy times. Wednesday was a busy day at the library, and then I scooched out at 5 to go down to the Conference Center for the CCWC Annual Meeting. We had a great turkey dinner, took care of business. Some good conversations, but far too many people come to these dinners and spend their time making excuses for not writing. I don’t care why you’re not writing, and I’m not interested in the whining. There’s no such thing as “no time to write”. There’s not managing your time and CHOOSING not to write. I want and need to be around people who are actually writing.

Home in a bad storm. My 90 year old mother was already pulling furniture and plants in off the deck. We finished doing that, and then I had to bake. The inside of the house looks like a conservatory at this point.

Then, of course, the damn storm wasn’t anywhere near as bad as predicted.

Up early on Thursday, packed the muffins, in the car and out the door by 7 AM. To Buzzards Bay for a board meeting at NMLC, which was pretty good, and then hurried to the library.

Busy day at the library – finished processing books, got about 60 or 70 out on the shelves and/or out to patrons. Helped a patron find a book he wanted, and introduced him to one of my favorite authors. Introduced another patron to the same author, when she expressed interest in the genre. Helped a college student find materials for a project she had due (the next day, of course) on etymology.

Off to Michael’s to look for foam core, but they no longer have it, so went to Staples and found it instead.

Picked up Chinese food for dinner, and then watched RUBY IN THE SMOKE, my “homework” for Masterpiece Theatre Book and Film Group. Matt Smith – who was the Dr. Who before this one – was in it, and was terrific.

I’m reading a biography of Thackeray that’s very entertaining. Published in 1947, the tone is as arch as some of Thackeray’s work is oddly amusing.

Not enough writing getting done, especially not on THE RED WIDOW. I will make up for it this weekend. I’m behind where I want to be on the diving homework, but I’ll catch up.

Next week will be flat out – Chamber meeting Tuesday evening, all-day conference in Sturbridge on Wednesday, an author event with the charismatic Kevin Symmons at the Stonebridge Club, Pinehills, Plymouth, on Thursday, and Samhain on Friday.

Saturday evening, all day Sunday, all day Monday, and most of Tuesday will be writing days. Tomorrow is my Saturday “on” at the library, and then I have a fundraising workshop in the afternoon.

Busy, busy, fun, fun.

Check in next week! Have a great one, all!

Devon

Wed. Oct. 22, 2014: Writing Immersion and Diving Class

Wednesday, October 22, 2104
Waning Moon
Mercury Retrograde
Raining

Busy, busy time.

Friday morning, I was up at 4:30 AM and out the door around 5:45 AM, heading for Woods Hole. I couldn’t quite remember how to get to the Palmer Ave. lot for ferry parking, and, of course, Google Maps, Mapquest, AND GPS on the phone were wrong. Gee, there’s a surprise.

I found it anyway, but sort of remembering where to go when I got there, and made the 7 AM ferry. It was cold and wet outside, so I rode inside, and was able to do my 1K on INITIATE.

I had time, when I reached Vineyard Haven, to have a quick snack – coffee and chocolate croissant at Nat’s Nook, on Main Street. Very good, and it seems like a fun place to hang out. That’s one thing I miss about the area where I live now on Cape – a lack of coffee shops where I can hang out.

Arrived at the library. The workshop was GREAT. We had such fun, and it was very relevant to what I’m doing. I love spending time with the Vineyard Librarians, and I love that Martha’s Vineyard has SIX very distinct libraries, all on one island. I keep threatening to make a day trip and visit all of them!

Lunch at the Black Dog, near the water, burger and a beer. Caught an earlier ferry back than I expected, and it was so beautiful I rode outside the whole way. What a gorgeous day. Hard to come back.

Returned to the library/office for the last couple of hours of the day and tried to catch up. Some books came in that I knew had holds on them, so I went back on Saturday (my Saturday “off”) for about an hour to do processing, etc.

Watched PENNY DREADFUL all weekend. Had really mixed feelings about it. There may be spoilers in here, so read on at your own risk. Loved the production design. Would have been nice if they’d use an occasional key light here and there so we could actually see it. There’s dim lighting for mood effect and then there are scenes that are so poorly lit you can’t tell what’s going on, and this series has too much of the latter. And I started in lighting, and have lit theatre, film, and television, so yes, I know of what I speak. I had problems with the final confrontation with the vampires taking place in a theatre where a different storyline focused. It didn’t make sense, and felt like they’d run out of money for locations. If the vampires had nested in the theatre, the Creature (being not entirely human himself) would have known. And the vampires would have attacked the actors and the audience AND the Creature, so the logic set up in the world didn’t make sense. My biggest problem was, yet again, another male creator depicts negative female sexuality. The lead females were a consumptive whore and a woman possessed when she enjoys sex. Yes, those are common tropes of the era; however, when you’re going to take a genre to new heights, explore it in new ways – I expect better. By the time we got to the madhouse episode, I was irritated – yeah, let’s have an hour-long episode JUST about torturing the lead female character and call it “backstory” and “motivation”. And then the possession episode – right, because if a woman appears strong and in control and then loses control in a passionate encounter and wants/likes sex, she MUST be possessed by a demon. I was outright angry by the end of it. I thought there was a lot of depth and humanity in the other storyline, about Frankenstein and the Creature, but suddenly they have Victor as a morphine addict, several episodes in, without giving us an indication of it before? He wouldn’t be able to think, be as precise or as creative if he was an addict addled by drugs. I thought Harry Treadawell, Rory Kinnear, and Josh Hartnett were all very good. I’m interested in seeing what they do with the next season, but if they continue this negative portrayal of female sexuality (no matter how they pretend to justify it), I’ll stop watching. This is an outdated, overworn cliché that, if you’re going to break new ground with the genre, you have to go beyond “women who enjoy sex are possessed”. I realize that there are plenty of religious fundamentalists who still believe that, but the rest of us have moved beyond it.

The rest of the weekend was about writing INITIATE. Wrote a LOT. Typed up several earlier chapters, because I had to make fixes in a few things that needed to be set up in order for the chapters I’m doing now to work. Didn’t do enough work on RED WIDOW – will have to make up for that this week. I was as surprised as my character when he got unexpectedly seduced by a minor character.

Sent of the writers’ center board minutes on Monday. Spent most of Monday and Tuesday writing. Well, Sunday, too. In fact, I was up until midnight on Monday writing. Tuesday afternoon I had diving class in Onset – learning a lot that will help in BALTHAZAAR TREASURE. I have homework, which I’m sure will spur more questions. I put on some of the equipment. It’s damn heavy. Good to get my hands on things.

To the library early this morning; have the annual meeting for the Writers Center, and then I have to bake, because tomorrow morning, I have a board meeting at the Marine Life Center.

Never a dull moment, and that’s a good thing.

Devon

Thurs. Oct. 16, 2014: Project Juggles and Other Obstacles

Thursday, October 16, 2014
Waning Moon
Mercury Retrograde
Stormy and hot

Feels very tropical today. I think it will be a pretty bad storm.

Friday was busy at the library, as was Saturday. Just exhausting. Came home, got some reading done, got some writing done.

Sunday, I did eight loads of laundry (turning over the furniture covers and curtains for fall), did some decorating, and read. I needed a break from writing. Monday, I ran errands and wrote. Tuesday, I finished decorating and wrote.

I’m moving back and forth between working on INITIATE and working on the novella THE RED WIDOW. Two different genres, very different ensembles, both on tight deadlines. Wrote 32 pages of THE RED WIDOW over the weekend, and probably about 20 of INITIATE.

I’m having a bit of trouble with the logic post fight sequence – I have to figure out a bit more.

Watched the Welsh detective series HINTERLAND. Liked most of it, love that they shot it in both English and Welsh. A little too many scenes at night, a little too mannered sometimes as far as being a little heavy-handed with the foreshadowing and some of the symbolism. But, overall, I really liked it, and I’m interested in seeing where it goes the next season.

Read a stack of cozies. Some were fun. Unfortunately, one of the best written had so many typos in it that I got frustrated. When you spell the same name three different ways on the same page, and the writer, the editor, and the copyeditor should have all caught it, there’s a problem. Some of the cozies were so poorly written and the characters so unlikeable that I didn’t even bother to finish them.

I was up early on Wednesday, to get my writing done –worked on INITIATE in the morning. The library was closed for carpet cleaning, so we had a staff development day. We drove to Provincetown, and took a dune tour. I hadn’t done that since the 1970s. The shacks remind me a lot of the conditions out at my friend’s island. It’s great that these retreats still exist. The whole no running water/outhouse thing isn’t really my preferred enjoyment, but I think it’s important to preserve the shacks. It’s a part of the local history and of artistic history, in general, that’s important.

We had lunch at the Lobster Pot, which was wonderful (lobster taco) and a staff meeting, to coordinate who does what when and to whom a little better. Definitely a working lunch, but good food and good company made it productive.

Got some stuff at Tim’s Books for some current and upcoming projects. We stopped at Atlantic Spice on the way back and I stocked up mon some stuff, including some pretty amazing oils.

Home. Dinner. Wrote seven pages on THE RED WIDOW. To bed early.

Sad news from a dear friend that one of his cats passed yesterday. She was a darling, and will be terribly missed.

Woke up at 2:30 and couldn’t get back to sleep. Fretting over several things. Finally got up a little after five. Wrote INITIATE. Got ready for the day.

Went in early to get a jump on all the processing that couldn’t get done yesterday, so that we could actually help patrons once we opened. Short story group met at the library today – always interesting conversation and laughter.

Four boxes of books showed up from Ingram, so I spent a lot of time processing and getting books out on shelves. Helped a patron with the Kindle, have more books to process. There are still a few things that need ironing out, so we’ll see.

I’m at a workshop on Martha’s Vineyard tomorrow. I expect to be back to the library in the late afternoon to finish a few things, but it all depends. I’ll have to get up at 4:30 in order to get out the door in time and make the ferry.

I intend to do some serious writing and research this weekend, mostly offline. I need to make some serious progress on both INITIATE and RED WIDOW, and next week, I get back into the swing with BALTHAZAAR.

Have a great weekend!

Devon

Fri. Oct. 10, 2014: Character Juggles

Friday, October 10, 2014
Waning Moon
Mercury Retrograde
Cold

Yesterday was busy. Got in early, processed all the check-ins that couldn’t be handled the previous day due to the computer being down; got the holds and other books processed; hand-entered the manual checkouts into the system. Thank goodness we had volunteers at the desk to handle the patrons coming in and out that day needing check-ins and check-outs, so that I could catch up on the previous afternoon’s system work.

It all got done, and that’s what counts.

Home, tired. Dinner, some reading, worked on a student manuscript.

Watched STILL LIFE, the film version of Louise Penny’s book. Nathaniel Parker played Gamache; Kate Hewlett (whose work I really enjoy) was Clara. One of the biggest delights was Anthony Lemke as Jean-Guy. I knew his work from LOST GIRL – he was terrific in this. I like the character of Jean-Guy in the books, but this was definitely a case of the actor raising it to an even better, deeper level. I hope they film more of the books in the series. I can’t wait to see what he does with Jean-Guy’s journey. I was disappointed that they pushed the character of Myrna aside, and they didn’t start the development of the wonderful relationship between Jean-Guy and Ruth. To me, the odd affection between those two is one of the best cornerstones in the series, and I hope it develops in future films.

Bad dreams last night. Truly disturbing, and when I woke from them, I remembered that they’ve been progressive. I have to stop them before they progress any farther, or I will be in trouble, so that’s on my agenda for tonight.

I have two books and a novella screaming for writing time. I managed to untangle a problem in INITIATE that prevented me from moving forward in the fight sequence. Something that happens post-sequence needs to be set up properly here, and because I’d tried to force one of the characters in a wrong direction, it wasn’t working. But we’re back on track, so that sequence should start flowing. I have to do the opening of RED WIDOW (the novella), because the characters are getting very impatient, and BALTHAZAAR is starting to percolate properly again.

I was going to submit a couple of pieces, and then realized it’s Mercury Retrograde, so there’s no damned point. I will prep them, and then send them when everything goes direct.

Tomorrow is my Saturday “on”, and then I can write all day on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Wednesday, we have a staff day out in P-town, so, after tomorrow, I won’t be back on line until Thursday, which is great. I LOVE being offline at least half the week. The improvement to my work is tremendous.

I also have to do some yard work any time it’s not raining. Time to put the garden to bed for the winter.

Have a great weekend!

Devon

Thurs. Oct. 9, 2014: Running (0n empty) on Multiple Rails

Thursday, October 9, 2014
Waning Moon
Mercury Retrograde
Cold

Busy day at the library, but a good one. I got some new records created, and new books on the shelves, which is always good. And some new DVDs, which had quite a few holds on them.

The afternoon was about the Cozy Mystery Book Group. We’d read Juliet Blackwell’s SECONDHAND SPIRITS, and all really liked it. Juliet was kind enough to write an essay just for the group, and we were all delighted with it. I’ll have to email her and thank her today. And we had cupcakes (the cupcakes I made the previous day). Because everything is more fun with a cupcake.

Home, dinner, read THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HARLOW, a cozy mystery by Kylie Logan that I bought for the library. It was fun – I think our patrons will enjoy it.

Started reading an arc of a romance novel I considered buying for the library – but it was pretty clear within ten pages that no way would I spend my own or anyone else’s money on it. She set the story in Scotland. It’s obvious she never set foot in Scotland or talked to anyone Scottish, and her only research was in other romance novels by authors who never set foot in Scotland. Besides, her characters sound like they’re from Brooklyn, not Scotland. There’s nothing wrong with sounding like you’re from Brooklyn if you are or want to pretend you are. But if you’re supposedly in the 1880s in the highlands of Scotland and not a time traveler . . .I just can’t respect someone who can’t be bothered to research. It was obvious that the flaws in the book were laziness, this idea that “it’s fiction, I can do whatever I want.” Yes, YOU can, but if you don’t have the least respect for me as a reader (not to mention that I’ve spent a lot of time in Scotland and love it dearly), I am not going to spend money on it.

The new piece is percolating. It took me awhile to settle on names for the characters, but they have now told me (in no uncertain terms) what their names are. Naming a character is such an intimate experience, and the name has so much meaning. I’m always shocked when I read on social media people wanting other people to choose character names in a story. If I’m the writer, I need to be the one choosing the name (or at least, my subconscious in the form the characters telling me what they are). It’s one thing to name a character inspired by a particular individual – it’s quite another to let random strangers choose character names. To me, that’s an invasion of something sacred between writer and character. The first sequence is almost ready to be written, and the title announced itself as well (which affected which notebook I’m using).

Having trouble choreographing the fight sequence for INITIATE. Didn’t get very far today – Aidan, my protagonist, had an epiphany, which took up the paragraphs I’d originally meant to start the fight. It will work, it adds a layer, but I need to get into the nitty gritty of the fight. And, of course, one of the characters on the other side of the fight has a more complicated agenda than I wanted.

Came in to work early (a little after 8), so that I could catch up on all the books that couldn’t be checked in with the system down yesterday, get the paging list done, and the books out to where patrons want and need them. The volunteers came in, as scheduled, at 9, and we got everything done before opening at 10. I still have to hand-enter the checkouts that were done yesterday, but at least we’re caught up, and everything is backdated so no one gets fined.

Still psychically exhausted from the weekend, although I ate pretzels last night (bread and salt), which helped somewhat.

Need to finish some student work tonight and get a good start on the fight sequence in INITIATE.

Devon

Wed. Oct. 8, 2014; Great Retreat With a Variety of Consequences

Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Full Moon
Lunar Eclipse
Mercury Retrograde
Rainy and warm

I am exhausted. It was a wonderful weekend at the Historical Writers’ Retreat, but I am completely used up.

Friday was busy in waves at the library. I got on the road mid-afternoon. The directions were a little confusing, once I got past Providence, but I arrived before dark, and the leaves have already turned in CT.

Amusing signage on the way: sign for a crematorium right beside a second hand store called “Recovered Relics.”

The house is old and alive. Not haunted, but alive. I had a lovely room upstairs, looking out over the back. Got settled, went down to the lovely buffet supper. There were a dozen of us, plus the terrific staff. And an adorable, tiny Pomeranian named Bear.

Three of us are playwrights, and the others work in various disciplines, but we all share a love of historical detail. We talked well into the night. I woke up around 2, had trouble getting back to sleep, woke up again around 5, and gave up and got up a little after 6.

First one down to breakfast – another wonderful buffet. After breakfast, it was hard to tear myself away from the lively discussion to write. But I did, and went upstairs to do my work – got about 1200 words done. Came down a little before lunch to try on some corsets and costumes – decided I really like the long line of the Titanic-era corsets and clothes. Really like them.

After lunch, three of us went into the town of Putnam and spent the afternoon poking around antique and other markets. I didn’t find anything that needed to come home with me in the antique market (although my colleagues did), but when we went to one of the other stores, we all bought tiaras (because every girl should have a tiara), and a feathered mask and a lovely pair of gloves. Stopped at the liquor store on the way back to pick up some contribution for the dinner.

We dressed for afternoon tea. My costume was more steampunk recreation than correct historical rendition, but that’s that. We had a lovely tea with delicious food and good tea (served on china very similar to some in my collection), and discussed customs, mores, and the like. It was fun.

We learned how to quadrille, which was both enormous fun, and makes me determined to add more dancing to as many of my upcoming books as possible! Also makes me want to create dances, for both INITIATE and for the SPARKLE AND TARNISH steampunk series that have a foundation in the actual dances and then depart.

We had a short break, and then had a formal procession in to dinner. The dinner was served in courses and was magnificent, with the dining room decorated in high Victorian style. First course: pumpkin apple soup, served with champagne. Second course: bite-sized bits of sardine, herring, and scallop, served with white wine. Third course: orange ginger ice. Fourth course: chicken wellington, squash, and the other vegetable escapes me, served with red wine. Fifth course: salad with olives and asparagus (and we’d just learned, that afternoon, that the ONLY appropriate way to eat asparagus is with one’s fingers).

We talked about spiritualism and the way the séance had developed. Then I did tarot readings – which, along with conversation, carried us until well after 2 AM. Usually, I will do one or two readings in a day, and pause in between, eating pretzels (bread and salt, to ground). This evening, I read about eight people back-to-back without stopping – or pausing to ground in between. And then I did an extra reading – long story there.

Packed and fell into bed. Woke up with a whole new understanding of “burn out”. It felt like my insides had been scoured by a flamethrower. There was just nothing left. I couldn’t eat; I could barely drink. At first, I figured it was a hangover, but it certainly didn’t feel like any hangover I’ve ever had in my life – and I’ve had some doozies. I overdid the readings, and I paid a price.

I slept on and off most of the morning, feeling guilty that I was missing the conversation, but unable to even sit up for more than a few minutes at a time. I managed a little lunch, and a walk outside after, then got on the road and headed back. It was a rough drive, but I made it.

Got home, forced myself to eat something. Protein helped. Went to bed ridiculously early.

Up at the normal time on Monday, still feeling hollow. Pulled it together enough to write nearly 2000 words on INITIATE, and to think about stuff for Sparkle and Tarnish, and to feel something start percolating deep down. Did some crystal work and earth work to draw up some energy.

Had lunch with a writer pal in Plymouth to plan our joint event at the end of the month. It was a good conversation, ranging on a wide range of topics along with the planning. Again, I focused on protein, and felt a little stronger.

Back home, paid some bills, got some cat food in, and then headed back over the bridge to the Buzzards Bay Dive Shop for some BALTHAZAAR research. They’re wonderful there, helpful and excited about the book. I’m going to actually study some diving and wreck diving basics as though I was going to get certified, and then we’ll work through specific scenes as I write them. I think that will work well. It also got me excited about the book again, which, poor thing, has been neglected during my obsession with INITIATE.

Got a chance to read CORAMBIS, the fourth Melusine book. Loved it. Gilroi Mildmay is one of my favorite characters in fiction. Period. It ended on a positive note, with their lives continuing, although we (the readers) are no longer on the journey. I completely respect Sarah Monette’s decision not to write more about them, while still feeling I could read another twenty books with Mildmay at the center.

To bed early on Monday, still exhausted. Up Tuesday, still feeling off kilter. Worked on INITIATE. Baked for the cozy mystery group. Re-read SECONDHAND SPIRITS so I’d be prepared. Tried to make the broomstick cookies, which were a disaster. The proportions in the recipe were wrong. Last time I pull a recipe off Facebook! Jeez.

Up early this morning. Worked on INITIATE, although the (also steampunk) piece that’s been percolating is starting to take shape. I have the core characters. The first sequence is fairly well formed in my head. I have basic plot ideas, although I have to smooth them out. I THINK this will be a novella, rather than a novel (famous last words).

For INITIATE, I’m about to embark on a complicated fight sequence, followed by a quiet sequence between two characters that surprised me when it evolved, and should surprise the readers. I’m going to try to write a bit on it tonight, or get up VERY early tomorrow morning so I can write the entire fight sequence in one session. Otherwise, I’ll lose the momentum.

Busy day at the library today. Good busy, but still busy. I feel like a pumpkin whose insides were scraped out for Halloween. It’ll take awhile to get my energy back. At least, during Mercury Retrograde, I don’t usually read cards anyway, but this is October, my busiest season, and I’m flamed out already.

Which is relevant to some of the scenes I’m currently writing, and I can give a more solid sensory description to my characters. But it sucks to actually live it.

More tomorrow.

Devon

Fri. Oct. 3, 2014: Ready for Retreat

Friday, October 3, 2014
Waxing Moon
Mercury Goes Retrograde Tomorrow

Just what I need. A Merc Ret while I travel (headdesk). But, according to some of the astrologers, this one is about rejuvenation and reconnection, so, hopefully, there will also be some positives involved.

Yesterday was a steadily busy day at the library. Good busy, but busy. At least I got 21 new books processed and out onto the shelves and/or in transit to where people had holds on them.

Came home, made dinner, finished packing, read a bit. Because I’d had a bad night the night before, I went to bed ridiculously early.

Up early this morning, putting the last few things together. Loaded the car, played with the cats. Violet retreated into the linen closet, and Tessa is mad at me for leaving.

I’m leaving work a little early this afternoon to get on the road before the worst of the traffic. I’m longing for this retreat. I need it badly. I’ll have writing time, along with inspiration for new ideas. I’m taking INITIATE along, of course, because I don’t want to lose its rhythm. And I’m taking the Sparkle and Tarnish materials, too, since that’s the correct period, and some of the presentations over this weekend will feed directly into that. I have CORAMBIS with me, but I have to make sure I don’t just dive into reading that and forget everything else.

My big fear is that I’m so tired, I’ll just sink into sleep and sleep most of the weekend away. I want to experience it and enjoy it.

Monday, I have a lunch meeting with the author I’m joining for an event at the end of the month. Tuesday, I have to bake and write. Wednesday is the next book club meeting, where we’re doing Juliet Blackwell’s SECONDHAND SPIRITS. I have books on vintage clothing, etc., coming in and Juliet wrote a lovely essay for the club on the inspiration.

Have a great weekend!

Devon

Thurs. Oct. 2, 2014: Run down and Plugging Along

Thursday, October 02, 2014
Waxing Moon

Mercury goes retrograde on Saturday – while I’m away. I’ll be traveling just before Mercury goes retrograde, and then while it’s retrograde. Not looking forward to that, although I am looking forward to the retreat.

My costume is together – found the lace gloves, and even the granny boots, which I polished up last night, and they look beautiful. Put it all in a garment bag, so it’s ready to go. Packed most of my regular clothes, and the bin with the books and manuscripts I’m taking.

CORAMBIS arrived – can’t wait to dive into it.

Worked on the manuscript for my student, but I’m having a problem with the formatting. Not hers, but the computer isn’t being cooperative.

Work was busy. Got home at six, ate, read a bit, packed, worked on the costume, tried to get everything ready.

Had trouble sleeping, and then had disturbing dreams. Alarm went off at 5:30. Iris & Violet didn’t want to get up (because it was dark). Tessa whomped them on the butt to get them moving.

Tried to work on the student manuscript – and the computer had eaten it. So I had to redownload it this morning, and I’m starting from scratch.

Tired and have a headache today. I just have to get through today and part of tomorrow, and then I’m on retreat for a few days. Monday, I have a planning meeting for an event I’m doing at the end of the month, and Tuesday, I’m writing. Very tired and rundown.

I wonder if I can get away with not speaking for the three weeks Mercury is in retrograde? That’s probably the safest.

Have a great weekend!

Devon

Wed. Oct. 1, 2014: In the Embrace of My book

Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Waxing Moon

It was fantastic to have a few days away from work. Friday was busy; Saturday was also busy, and we hosted the wonderful poet and short story writer Charles Coe. He was tremendous and insightful and intelligent and funny and magnificent. We had a small group, because it was a beautiful day, and the people who didn’t come missed out on something wonderful.

Went home, read on the deck for a bit. Wrote. Sunday was all about INITIATE. Between Sunday, Monday, and yesterday, I wrote close to 80 pages (longhand). A lot of it won’t be used, but I needed to figure out threads and work on relationships and see the bigger web so I could figure out what to focus on in the immediate. It was wonderful. Felt so right and good to be working on this.

Did a few errands on Monday, but it was mostly about INITIATE. My reward was that THE MIRADOR, the third Melusine book by Sarah Monette arrived, and I devoured all 400+ pages of it, reading well into the night. I love this series. Can’t put it down. These are books I will re-read over and over again. Tuesday morning, I got my hair cut – she chopped off over a foot of hair! I’m back to short hair. My stylist turns out to have worked for Disney on Ice several years ago. I’m happy to have a theatre person doing my hair!

Grocery shopping, more writing, some reading, and then to the library on Tuesday night. Home after eight, more writing, more reading, started packing for the writers’ retreat this weekend. I know I’ll take the manuscript and some books and some notebooks, etc., but have no idea what I’ll wear. I have to bring something nice for the candlelight supper on Saturday night. I leave straight from work on Friday.

I’ve started the Samhain decorating, although that will take awhile, because I don’t have eight or ten hours to devote to it. And I did 8 loads of laundry, including changing over to our winter slipcovers.

I’m very excited by the prospect of the Historical Writers’ Retreat this weekend – even though the novel I’m writing is High Fantasy. I think I’ll get lots of good ideas, especially for things I can apply to the steampunk Sparkle & Tarnish series. There are some steampunky elements in INITIATE – the society is starting to move towards steam and industry – so it will all be interesting.